Family group cognitive–behavioral preventive intervention for families of depressed parents: 18- and 24-month outcomes.

Abstract

Objective In a long-term follow-up of a randomized controlled trial (Compas et al., 2009), to examine the effects at 18- and 24-month follow-ups of a Family Group Cognitive Behavioral (FGCB) preventive intervention for mental health outcomes for children and parents from families (N = 111) of parents with a history of major depressive disorder (MDD). Method Parents with a history of MDD and their 9 to 15-year-old children were randomly assigned to a FGCB intervention or a Written Information (WI) comparison condition. Children’s internalizing, externalizing, anxiety/depression, and depressive symptoms, episodes of MDD and other psychiatric diagnoses, and parents’ depressive symptoms and episodes of MDD were assessed at 18- and 24-months after randomization. Results Children in the FGCB condition were significantly lower in self-reports of anxiety/depression and internalizing symptoms at 18-months and significantly lower in externalizing symptoms at 18- and 24-months. Rates of MDD were significantly lower for children in the FGCB intervention over the 24-month follow-up (odds ratio = 2.91). No significant effects were found for parents’ symptoms of depression or episodes of MDD. Conclusions Support was found for a FGCB preventive intervention for children of parents with a history of MDD significantly reducing children’s episodes of MDD over a period of 2 years. Significant effects for the FGCB intervention were also found on internalizing and externalizing symptoms, with stronger effects at 18- than at 24-month follow-up.

Children and adolescents coping with cancer: Self- and parent reports of coping and anxiety/depression.

“…Recent studies have shown that children and adolescents can learn secondary control coping skills as part of cognitive–behavioral preventive interventions (e.g., Compas et al, 2009, 2010, 2011; Tein, Sandler, MacKinnon, & Wolchik, 2004). The findings of the current study suggest that the development of similar interventions for children with cancer is an important priority for future research.…”

Intervention programs for children whose parents have a mental illness: a review

“…[6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13] Of these, six programs target families where a parent has depression and/or anxiety. 7,8,[10][11][12][13] The most prominent, Family Talk, targets families where a parent is diagnosed with a major depressive disorder or bipolar disorder, with children aged between 8 and 15 years who have never been treated for an affective disorder. 10,11 Family Talk employs a cognitive psychoeducational approach of between six and 10 sessions, some of which are directed to parents, some to the children and some to the whole family.…”

The clinical effectiveness, cost-effectiveness and acceptability of community-based interventions aimed at improving or maintaining quality of life in children of parents with serious mental illness: a systematic review

“…Hence, only one additional study would have been eligible for inclusion. 220 This study reported longer-term follow-up outcomes for an RCT already included in our secondary depression synthesis. 143 The effect of a family group cognitive-behavioural intervention was compared with a parenting-based psychoeducational intervention on mental health outcomes in children aged 9-15 years with parents with a history of MDD.…”